The lows and lows of UPA II: Sushma attacks Sonia over slew of scandals

The leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, proved why she is one of the best orators in the BJP as she tore into the UPA government in a two-part attack on Tuesday.

While her speech in response to the finance Bill focused on the slew of scams under the UPA's rule, Swaraj's real salvo came in the evening when she trained her guns firmly on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Sushma blamed Sonia for the disruptions that took place during her speech in the Lok Sabha.

"I was prevented from speaking in the House as Sonia instigated her MPs to create a pandemonium," Sushma said.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj (left) speaks as UPA president Sonia Gandhi listens to her in Lok Sabha

"It was decided at the Business Advisory Committee meeting that I would speak on the issue of coal block allocations and (in return) the BJP would allow passage of the finance Bill to prevent it from lapsing. But whatever is decided is not implemented. Only what Sonia decides takes place in the House," Sushma said.

The leader of the Opposition also alleged that during the discussion in the House, Sonia had signaled to Speaker Meira Kumar to reduce the time allotted for her speech.

The intensity of Sushma's attack against Sonia brought back memories of past rivalry between the two, which first manifested when the two contested against each other in Bellary in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, and later in 2004 when Sushma threatened to shave her head and become a mendicant if Sonia became the Prime Minister of the country.

But Sonia wasn't the only one who came in Swaraj's firing line. She accused Meira Kumar of being biased and "not protecting her" when she was being "prevented from speaking".

"We have decided that we will not attend any meeting to be convened by the Speaker or the parliamentary affairs minister… the reason for this is the attitude of the government," Sushma said.

The Congress was quick to trash Sushma's allegations.

"It is very unfortunate and uncharitable accusation being made against Sonia. I do not know how she is privy to what Sonia has spoken to anyone sitting across the floor. I doubt it very much," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said.

Law minister gets a breather till May 8

By Kay Benedict in New Delhi

The Congress on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh succumbingto the BJP demand and putting in his papers.

It will also wait for the next date of hearing in Coalgate case in the Supreme Court on May 8 before taking a call on Law Minister Ashwani Kumar’s fate.

The BJP has been demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation alleging that Singh was in charge of the coal ministry during the period of the alleged scam, and the PMO too was involved in tweaking the CBI’s status report.

Some Congress leaders also favour the removal of the law minister.

As the Supreme Court took a strong stand against suppression of information in the Coalgate report and sharing the same with the government, the Congress core group convened a meeting.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram refused to answer whether the law minister will continue, but the Prime Minister said action will be taken only after he studies the observations made by the apex court.

AICC general secretary Janardan
Dwivedi said the court observations were not pleasant for the
government, but it will wait for the final opinion.

“I believe that the final opinion is yet to come and once it comes, an appropriate decision can be taken,” Dwivedi said.

The
law minister had separate meetings with the Prime Minister and Sonia
Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel and discussed the implications
of the court remarks.

Sources said Sonia has written to the PM giving her views on the fallout of the controversy.